AMCO is a Serbian engineering company which intended to enter F1 next year under the banner - Stefan Grand Prix. The complaint is aimed squarely at the FIA.



According to the owner they were going to use an existing F1 engine supplier, but were "forced to sign with Cosworth, even though we had two different options better for us...we were forced into a contract without our will, just to be 'eligible' for selection."

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_new...es_art_id=38607

F1 seems a pretty high aim from a company with no experience, but...who am I to say they couldn't get a car to the grid.

I'm an outsider in the EC process.
Does anyone know if the EC must look into every complaint?
Has this gone through a process to get to this point or?

A company like USF1

Well...kind of. At least the USF1 team owners have a bit of F1 background.

Who's to say that StefanGrand Prix didn't have people on board who have experience in F1? Logic says it must have had even if we don't know who. The boss of the team is obviously speaking out now so someone will surely ask him this kind of question soon

Without question. That's why I said, "F1 seems a pretty high aim from a company with no experience, but...who am I to say they couldn't get a car to the grid."

My real question is about the EC. Has this complaint just arrived at their feet or does it go through a certain process to arrive at this point?

Do they (EC) have to investigate or ?

im not an expert on the EC, but i think they would be under no obligation to investigate. it would be up to them to read the complaint and evaluate its importance as to if or how they proceed.
however, the EC do have previous dealings with the fia, and my guess would be if they see any grounds for an enquiry, they would jump on the chance, especially as this relates to commercial matters where they (fia) got a serious slapping from the EC a few yrs back.

Agreed.
On the second point, the EC website says that you have to go through a process to file a complaint:
You would need to fulfil certain legal requirements which are explained in detail in the Commission Notice on the handling of complaints (for further information see http://europa.eu.int/dgcomp/).
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consumers/contacts_en.html

The competition (or rather obstructing it) angle seems interesting...

And it applies to teams AND engine suppliers...

This outta be fun.

Indeed. I'm sure MM would enjoy another bottom slapping before he leaves

How can he leave when the federation is under attack? Heaven forbid that the man that got the FIA into this situation stays around to dig it out

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn, I bet that could well prove to be the case too

Jump on the FIA without waiting to see if the EC decide if anything even needs investigating.
That says far more about your biase than if the FIA have done anything wrong.
Another point to remember is would they have complained if they had got into F1?
Or is it just sour grapes!!

What? sour grapes?
Their claim is that they were FORCED TO SIGN an agreement to use Cosworth engines.

Your post says far more about your bias toward anything FIA. The FIA were asked the alledged "Cosworth" requirement story. They had the chance to dispell the rumor and they did just the opposite.

Problem: Campos, Manor and USF1 would all have signed the new Concorde Agreement, a legally-binding document that says they will compete until 2012 at the least. And while one could make the case that the Concorde is null and void because of the selection process, the teams negotiated directly with CVC; the FIA signing was the last thing that happened.

Personally, I think this Stefanovic guy is off his rocker. He wants the application process to be carried out again, but given that the FIA would have to give everyone time to put their proposals together and secure new sources of funding - how many backers do you think were willing to commit to a project once FOTA dropped the breakaway threat? - which is going to take time. It's now August, and teams like USF1 and Campos have been developing their cars since February. If the selection process takes place again, any new new teams are going to have to hurry. And we all know what happened last time someone rushed a car to make the grid: Lola in 1997. Ironically, this Stefanovic guy tried to buy those very cars when Lola bowed out twelve year ago. If anybody should know the dangers of a rushed car, it's him.

Besides, USF1, Campos and Manor - all legitimate racing organisations - don't deserve to have their places jeopardised by the whim of an unknown would-be.

I'm waiting for the EU judge to rule that there was unfair and blatant bias in the selection process, and therefore issues a judgement that in order to maintain the course of integrity, all 17 entries that submitted their forms to the FIA, will be allowed to race.

Now THAT would be fun!

Whether he is a "would-be" or not is immaterial. What is in question is whether or not the FIA actually "forced" a team to use Cosworth engines.

Attacking his character is just an attempt at spin.

Bring on the pre-qualifying again

Someone should file a complaint against FOTA for forming a cartel. I think there could be a case for that - cost rigging, price fixing, division of profits...

Well, if he wins, it's going to be a Pyrrhic victory. One the one hand you have Campos, a spin-off from a successful GP2 team. On the other you have Manor, the evolution of a successful F3 (and WSR, I think) team. And then you have USF1, a project that has been in development for years and was always going to apply for 2010 even without the FIA opening up grid positions or the budget cap. And who is Zoran Stefanovic? He's an aspiring team principal with zero racing experience that we know of. We didn't even know that he intended to field a team until today. Even if he forces the process through again, I think he stands little chance because of his lack of experience. Epsilon Euskadi, Litespeed-Lotus and N.Technology all have racing experience that Stefanovic does not.

And it still doesn't change the fact that the teams - new and current alike - signed the Concorde Agreement with CVC before the FIA. The intention was to put all the weight behind FOTA so that a championship could and would happen even without the FIA's backing. Peter Windsor put it best at the Hungarian Grand Prix: "Whatever FOTA and CVC does next year will be Formula One". Campos, Manor and USF1 might have been granted grid positions by the FIA, but they've thrown their lot in with CVC. At most, all I can see Stefanovic's complaint doing is allowing those three teams the option to change their engine supplier.

All we have on this subject is Stefanovic's claims: that he was told that if he wanted to make the grid, he had to use a Cosworth. All we have is his word, and no context to it whatsoever. For all we know, it was not a commandment, but rather a piece of advice. After all, he has no experience; he could have been told to use a Cosworth because the best applications so far had nominated them, and that if it was his heart's desire to make the grid, he should nominate a Cosworth.

That someone could file the same complaint on the same grounds against FIA and CVC while he/she is at it. Then wait for EC to dismiss the case.

Other websites outside of the F1 circus are picking up the story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbys...bias-probe.html

same non-story and same dude peddling it

Correction: We have Stefanovic's claims and N.Technology's claims about engine choice irregularities in the selection process, as well as a few rumblings from others who weren't happy with how the process ran (eg Lola).

The heat is on again on Maxine + entourage!

Then why is Stefanovic the only one to be running to the EC? Why is N.Technology filing a court case instead? They'd be much stronger together than they are separate, but neither case gets around the fact that the new teams signed a Concorde Agreement with CVC. They're obligated to compete.

Opportunistic money grabbers.

I doubt the FIA are quaking in their pants.

Is this the same guy who tried to set up a Stefan GP team about 10 years ago?

Utterly irrelevant. Doesn't look like you have been following F1 for long otherwise you would know that when the EC last investigated F1 it forced changes to the Concore Agreement and the investigation itself prevented Bernie from floating F1 - the Commission is not going to lose any sleep if three hypothetical teams don't get in next year as a result of this. The complaint follows legal action from N.Tech over the same matter as well as open criticism of the same issue from several other teams so it's not as if it's only coming from one person. The worst part is that the accusation of bias was put to the FIA an they didn't try to deny it...

Yes 1998, Team Stefan; Yugoslav effort by Zoran Stefanovic wanting to use the abandoned Lola T97/30s.

Dunno why the FIA didn't take them more seriously, they even spend $5 on a website you know.

In the end it doesn't really matter because it's clearly stated in the regulations that the FIA have Absolute Discretion over the application process, meaning the FIA can pick and chose which teams they damn well please, and every team applying have thus accepted that fact.

Gotta hand it to you - how did you know the EC complaint hadn't been filed by N.Tech when you said yesterday in post 76 on the 'Concorde Agreement signed' thread that:



You were right - it's not N.Tech but of course it's not a big fat nothing since the complaint has indeed been filed.

Even if the FIA write in the regulations 'we can break competition law' this doesn't allow them to do so. If the bias towards Cosworth breaks Articles 81 and 82 of the European Treaty then it doesn't matter what the FIA puts in its contracts because it has broken the law.

That may very well be so, but then N.Tech, Stefanovich, Lola et al should have complained BEFORE their applications were denied. As it stands, they applied and accepted FIA's rules, even if they are illegal and that their application may not be accepted. And really, there has to be a selection process, and who should have the power of which application should accepted or not, if not the FIA?

Why? When a crime is committed you can report it at any time if you have evidence (as Stefan and Lola do)

After the fact that they consorted with the criminals and were denied the illegal goods? I think not.

Absolutely yes. The crime still took place. This kind of tip off takes place all the time and it is usually as a plea bargain from those who were denied the illegal goods - they tell on the criminals at the top of the tree in exchange for being let off. In this case, Stefan and Lola have not committed any crime so there is no plea bargain - it is just a simple case of them reporting a breach of the law for which they have evidence. Stefan has chosen to take his evidence to the EC which can get the selection process (and thereby Manor, Campos and USF1) declared void whereas N.Tech is taking the evidence to court to get financial damages.

It's so funny to me that most cannot see what the issue here is. It has nothing to do with the individual or the website or their past F1 history, who's to say the guy hadn't contacted Stepney to run his team - like him or not the guy is very qualified to do so. Maybe Coughlin was designing for him- all of that is immaterial. What is pertinent to this latest FIA episode is that alledgedly entrants were told which engine they had to use if they were going to have a chance of being accepted. That's what is at issue here, not whether his website is good enough or if his hair is long enough or if he has enough pitbabes. It's like a bunch of junior high-school girls here.

I think most here can exactly see this for what it really is, a non-issue that we'll never hear of again apart for the EU dismissing it in 2015.

Quite right. The part you bolded appears to put the FIA in breach of a prior ruling from the EU that the FIA must not interfere in the commercial side of the sport - and in particular in a manner that could be seen to be considered anti-competitive.

That the FIA granted a tender to Cosworth does NOT grant them the right to force teams to use the Cosworth if those teams have other options available to them.



That the teams submitted their applications and apparently waited until after the 3 new teams were selected before making their complaint is absolutely irrelevant here.

What might be relevant is that two teams have now come forward and claimed that the FIA interfered in the commercial side of the sport by directing new teams that they must submit an application listing Cosworth. The FIA is not supposed to be interfering in the commercial side of motorsport.

The claims made by Stefanovich and N.Technology bear a lot of similarity to what got the FIA in trouble last time. In this case the FIA is meddling in commercial matters by dictating the Cosworth be selected and, thus, locking out the existing manufacturer's, or indeed any new manufacturer that (unlikely, but still a consideration) may have been interested. Last time it was forcing any circuit that wanted to host F1 to sign contracts preventing them from holding events with rival series. Both cases involve anti-competitive behaviour, and both cases involve meddling in commercial matters.

They've been slapped once already ... Max Mosley's legacy may be leaving the FIA having to deal with getting slapped for the same thing again. Historically the EC doesn't look kindly on having to slap a second time...

I would add that the tender was not even for providing an engine for the new teams to be introduced in 2010, it was for all teams to use in 2010 as a standard engine. That is what the tender was for and so there should have been another tender for providing an engine for the new teams to be introduced in 2010. There wasn't, and instead, the FIA forced Cosworth on the new teams.



You obviously weren't following F1 from 1999 to 2001.

As i pointed out do you think they would have complained if they had got a place hence sour grapes.
It amazes me how many are taking allegations as facts.
Until such time as the court either hear the case and come to a decision or dismiss the case it is just an allegation nothing more or less.
certainly not fact as some would love to make out.

Yeah it's hardly news though, it was alleged weeks ago that all new entrants were forced to use cosworth http://www.autoevolution.com/news/controve...worth-8457.html

Correct. Now one of the teams has lodged a complaint about it with the EC - it has been taken to the next stage. The next stage is an EC investigation.

I think the only thing that many here are taking as fact is that a complaint against the FIA has been filed with the EC - that's all.

I think even that is confirmed in the article. The only question in my mind is whether the EC will investigate but, given that the previous investigation into F1 was about a very similar matter it seems highly unlikely on precedent alone that it will not. Given that the FIA was crippled by the previous investigation (it threatened leaving Europe when the EC turned up the heat and, AFAIK this is why it set up its other HQ in Geneva) I suspect the FIA will be very worried right now.

No surprise, then. IMO FOTA considered similar move during FIA/FOTA war. As that has settled down now they had no need.

Here the infamous claim of mr Stefanovic, nothing but feeble allegations, feelings and hearsay.
They are going to be very impressed with this at the EU

July 27, 2009

Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation issue following statement:

Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation participate in FIA entries procedure for 2010. Our entry was rejected.
Our company has all ingredients required to be proper "constructor" as per FIA rules.
We have facilities, wind tunnels, and we have people.
Our domestic staff has technical knowledge and we are into aerospace production for years.
We secured service of Mike Coughlan for chief designer and we have several more, also experienced
people with us.
Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation doesn't say we are best in the world, we are just good enough to be serious contender in F1.

Taking into consideration all facts we feel our rights for fair and equal competition are violated.
Subsequently, we submit today to European Commission Directorate‐General for Competition complaint against FIA 2010 selection process regarding "new teams" under "budget capped teams" rulling.

What we have as positive fact is that we are forced into contract without our will, just to be" eligible" for selection.
Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation was presented by company Cosworth during negotiating
process:

That they have to “confirm the arrangements that we have been asked to enforce by the FIA"

and

“The FIA have indicated to us that they will require evidence of a signed engine contract between any team electing to go down the ‘budget capped’ route as a pre‐requisite for acceptance of an entry”

We feel that we are forced to sign with Cosworth, even if we have two different options better for us.

Our expectations are that selection process will be reviewed and according to EU rules declared automatically void.
And we are looking forward to new selection process to be held.

Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation expect that such our action will be of benefit to all involved, especially to spectators.

Stefan Grand Prix ‐ AMCO Corporation looking to add following:

Formula 1 is bigger then just championship.

During period from 1950. up to present times, this sport become global and property of all countries involved in FIA.
Our company looking to F1 as the sport, not just as a business.
We strongly believe that Formula 1 team opportunity must be available to all in the world.
Not just to few in very limited number of countries.
Because, times are changing.
And we are not going to stop.

For and on behalf of

STEFAN GRAND PRIX SGP
Postanski Fah 545
11000 Belgrade
www.stefangp.com

and

AMCO Corporation AMCO
Postanski Fah 545
11000 Belgrade
www.amco.st

Zoran D. Stefanovic, MSc Law, CEO

more about Zoran and his complaint at F1Fanatic

Sounds kinda feeble tbh ... the FIA is well within its rights to require prospective competitors to have a signed engine contract to be eligible for selection, there's no actual mention of sign with cosworth.

Plus for the love of god, couldn't they pay an English speaking lawyer to draft that?